What is a family?

1. What is a family? Who is in a family? Which people? . What do they do? What are their roles within the family? . What kind of family do they have? . What other kinds of families are they aware of? http://integration-net.ca/coa-oce/english/pdf/11family.pdf

2. Definition of a family: Family is defined as any grouping of two or more persons who are bound together, over time, by ties agreed on by them, by birth and/ or adoption/ placement and who, together, assume responsibilities for some or all of the following: . physical and other care of its members . addition of new members through birth/ adoption . social development of children . getting family members to understand what is appropriate socially and what is not . affective nurturing – love

3. Who are these families? • Almost 9 out of 10 Canadian families (87.1 %) were husband/ wife in 1991; • There is no one typical family in Canada; • Many names are used to describe different kinds of families: -Nuclear families (married with children: 48 % and married without children: 29 %) -Extended families -Step-families or blended or recombined or reconstituted families -Childless families -Lone-parent families (13 % – 10.7 % were female lone-parent families 2.3 % were male lone-parent families) -Cohabiting couples, and common law marriages (with children: 4% without children: 6 %) -Traditional families -Same-sex families

4. Significant trends: • Most married women are now working outside the home • Lone-parent families are on the rise • Smaller households, more family members in the labour force • Aging population • Families differ across the country • Families matter to Canadians • Families have to work hard to keep themselves healthy. • Children with immigrant parents often have to juggle at least two different sets of beliefs and attitudes, those of Canadian culture and those of the home culture. Sometimes this can be an issue. • Activities such as providing love and emotional support, reaching out to your extended family, working, enjoying yourselves and educating your children are things which all families do all over the world.

5. Dealing with family stress/ Issues: • Intergenerational conflict • Identity crisis • Family values and peer pressure • Spousal abuse Complete the case studies… (WORD FILE: dealing with family stress Case Studies)

6. Debriefing On intergenerational conflict • This kind of conflict happens in all families. • Sometimes it is due to a clash of cultures. • Sometimes there are mixed expectations. • Sometimes it is due to stress. • Communication is important. On discipline • Different families have different methods of disciplining children. • It is important to balance the rights of children with the needs of the family. • Community help is available for dealing with parent/ child problems. On identity crisis • Difficult to balance peer pressure and the cultural norms of the family. • Parents as well as children can experience problems with identity. • Over time, some problems resolve themselves. • Communication is essential. • Community resources are available to help children and parents deal with these kinds of crises. On family values and peer pressure • Peer pressure exists in all cultural groups. • Children are under pressure to behave like their friends/ peers. • Children may be caught between their parents’ beliefs and those of their friends. • This may be difficult for some and positive for others. • Community resources are available to help children and parents deal with these issues. On spousal abuse • Wife abuse is a criminal act. • Wife abuse cuts across all social, economic, cultural and religious lines. • Wife abuse is a community problem because it affects us all. • Community resources are available to help women and children who are in abusive relationships.